Sinckler does not even realise it, but the minute the Finance Minister suggested in Parliament (February 11, 2014) how Government can put the brakes on its plans to lay off 3,000 public sector employees – and evenrehiresome people – if the Opposition changes its position on the cutting of public servants’ pay, he immediately proves Dr. David Estwick’s point that the Government is on the wrong path; it’s fiscal and economic policies are flawed and that the DLP is slaughtering people working within the Public Service, unnecessary. It is at this point that Sinckler should resign, having so eloquently set-out the basis for ‘a vote of no-confidence’ against himself!

Henderson N. Bovell is a former Chair of the National Assistance Board; Mr Bovell is also a noted social commentator and contributor to Radio Call-In programmes

The DLP cannot be trusted! It is why there are a number of things it conveniently overlooks, in its carefully considered, distraction-gimmick – a vulgar scam in which it is desperately seeking to get the country to blame the Barbados Labour Party (and not this recklessDLP) for having so dangerously mismanaged the economy, that it now panics and slaughters over 3,000 workers, without just cause! Essentially, the DLP now finds itself being savaged by its own folly and ‘vulgar-propaganda‘ – that the economy is not important, thesociety is – and yet, this country is now seeing social instability on an unprecedented scale, while the country continues on its ‘fast free fall to economic ruin.’

If there was any doubt that the DLP is on the wrong path (as some of its members only just discovered) and that it simply cannot cope – the IMF presents an independent and convincing case! Having carefully investigated this DLP Government, including what it was hiding from Barbadians, the IMF is in a position to now confirm that:”Barbados has not succeeded in recovering from the adverse consequences of the global financial crisis, and faces considerable challenges…” Isn’t that not what the BLP was telling you all along – that the DLP simply cannot cope; (2) does not know what it is doing; (3) that its policies are flawed and are not working and (3) that having had to cope with the same global conditions as Barbados, the respective economy of some thirty-five countries within Latin America and the Caribbean – were out-performing Barbados, which finds itself in crisis; shrinking, downgraded to “JUNK” at the bottom of the pile? With knowledge of ‘all of the above,’ why allow yourself to be distracted with ‘trademark DLP froth‘ about ‘yet another DLP pay-cut?’ If there was “NO DLP,” there would be “NO” talk about any ‘pay cut,’ neither would there be any reckless mismanagement of the economy. And for sure, you would have money in your pocket!

IMF Report or not, it remains a closely guarded secret, exactly how many people the DLP engaged since January 15, 2008 – some even during the 2013 general election campaign (and promised that if they voted for the DLP, their employment would be safe and that there will be no “layoff“) inducements, which are contrary to Section 6 of the Election Offenses and Controversies Act.

The second critical point is, the bloating of the Public Service was obviously done during a recession, as well as during the same global financial crisis the DLP likes to say – was the worse in history, but only as an excuse to downplay its inability to cope, as now confirmed by the IMF but a point that was already being made by the Barbados Labour Party.

But casually engaging so many people, is the height of fiscal recklessness because it was known that the economy was shrinking and that there was no access work to be done or money to pay additional people being engaged, except – if there was a hidden plot to divert savings from freezing the pay of legitimate Public Workers, to (what could only be) a DLP’s Employment Slush Fund, which would be consistent with its “fatted calf doctrine.”

It is vulgar for the DLP to convey the impression that it is interested in fiscal prudence, especially given that the electorate rejected a number of its candidates at the Polls in the February 2013 general election but they were “defiantly” eased-in through the back-door and now constitute a financial burden; a cost overrun and an unnecessary recurrent expenditure, for the taxpayers.

Only the most distinguished “political of idiots” and maybe only those “eminent” by DLP standards – would seek to change the Constitution of Barbados (not for any noble purpose) but simply to deny; deprive and legally rob “legitimate Public Servants” out of their pay or property. These are the very workers the DLP has already subjected to a pay cut for close to six years, by virtue of a pay freeze and by so dangerously mis-managing the economy – that prices rose by some 40%, while their pay remained frozen!

It just shows the selfishness of the DLP, which cannot be trusted! That, it would rather rob’ legitimate Public Servants’ out of their pay, just so it can keep its large unproductive Cabinet, many of whom the electorate fired. But, the DLP “constipation” seems to be, the realization that everybody, including its members – now see it as a political party – not to be trusted because it is allergic the truth. The DLP is subjecting legitimate Public Servants to unnecessary stress, simply because it has been caught with egg on its face – having betrayed even its members to whom it has promised to slaughter the fatted calf.

While all of this drama and raucous is taking place, Barbadians sit on their hands and remain silent, even as their relatives, neighbours and friends are fired, even ignoring the fact that the DLP is committing them annually to close to a million in expenses (that cannot be justified) simply to pay the very members of a Cabinet, the electorate fired, expecting a saving to the Treasury but getting a cost overrun instead!

But, if the DLP (which cannot be trusted) blatantly ignored Section 6 of the Election Offenses and Controversies Act and bloated the Public Service; if they see nothing wrong with funneling state-funds to DEM’s – through their ‘Political Entitlement Programmes‘ and if they see nothing wrong with funneling state funds to the NHC without Parliamentary approval, or with swapping 19 acres of land for 9 - again without the approval of Parliament and as the law requires – do you really believe that they would care about making some amendment to the Constitution of Barbados, when by doing so – it will allow them to: “rule longer; qualify for pension, avoid making tough decisions; kick the can down the road and, as they put it: “avoid committing political suicide?”

If at this point – the people of this country still cannot see that the DLP (which cannot be trusted) has set aside policy; any strategic plan it may have had (even if flawed) and is mis-managing the country, consistent with its “fatted calf doctrine” – then Barbadians’ inability to identify political oppression means that this country is in serious trouble – way beyond its current economic, social and political crisis!

Back in the real world and less than a year after a general election, the IMF takes charge! The electorate wouldn’t but somebody has too! So much for sovereignty!